TRX Based 8x8

[JimInMiami]

Reply in the Thread

I've received a few questions about this build as private messages and would like to urge everyone to post their questions HERE IN THE THREAD so that everyone can benefit from the info. That's the whole purpose of forums like this one, right?? Don't be shy, there are no "stupid questions", we are all here to share and benefit from the collective knowledge of the community.

So BryanG76 will hopefully forgive me if I post his private msg here:

QUESTION: Jim your 8x8 build read was amazing congratulations and thanks for the info. I picked up that HG cab, just the cab for now for an LCG build. I’m a baby when it comes to scale but have been inspired by you.
I was going to learn how to mount the cab, but before I go to work, do you know of any eBay links that have the fenders are additional parts that mount the cab?
Ideally I would have loved to be able to purchase the cab , fenders, and bits behind the cab and then trim and cut and mount to desired chassis…

It’ll be a climber so I won’t be mounting this can in it’s traditional place (won’t be able to climb anything just seeing how much of a complete cab I can get to .

ANSWER: Bryan, tho the cab is really nice and super detailed, I would really not recommend it for a crawler because of the weight. See below pic for the parts I've assembled so far. Because the original HG rig has no bumper, the "face plate" for the front of the cab is metal to protect it. That's right, that part sitting in front of the cab in the pic is solid pot metal!

As a result your low-CG rig would end up anything but, totally defeating the purpose of your build IMO.

That said, if you are really hell-bent on building one, you can get parts here:
https://rchobbies.org/HG-RC/HG-P801-P802-HEMTT-RC-Truck-Parts.html

 

[JimInMiami]

And in other news.....

The chassis is now complete except for a few minor issues. I threw on some random wheels I had lying around to test drive it in the living room. Happy to report everything's working as it should!! :mrgreen:

Electronics are HW1080 ESC, Holmes Hobbies 21T 550 Torquemaster Expert, 2 Amazon 25kg servos. I think I'm gonna run this on 3s seeing as it's a heavy rig :shock:

Pro Tip: I took advantage of the 4-wheels steering feature on the Flysky FS-GT5 radio to link the two steering servos rather than using a Y-connector as I had originally done. This allows me to fine tune the centering and end-point-adjustments of the servos independently.

 

[JimInMiami]

Wrap up

So in the end I decided I really want to drive this rig and felt that with the HG P801 body it'd just end up a shelf queen. So.....

Proline Strikeforce cab and oil drum from the HG P801 parts stash.

Choice of wheels and tires (Hyrax clones and Injora beadlocks) was dictated by what I had eight of already on hand, tho that might get upgraded in the future.

Hope y'all enjoyed the build, thanks for following along! "thumbsup"

 

[twade984]

This thing turned out good. Great application for the strike force body

How does it jump??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JimInMiami]

This thing turned out good. Great application for the strike force body

How does it jump??
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, only driven it in the living room so far. Only thing I can say is that it is striking terror in my cat’s heart. :mrgreen:

 

[AK KRAWLER]

Looking awesome Jim!!! I dig the new cab.

 

[JimInMiami]

Looking awesome Jim!!! I dig the new cab.

Thank you sir!! I realized that I hadn't posted an important change.

The battery in the stock TRX4 Sport location looked dorky sticking out of the cab, so front inner fenders were installed allowing battery up front where Gawd intended

 

[JimInMiami]

On the Rocks!

Had a chance to take it to the local crawling park, this thing loves the rocks!

The drivin experience is different cause at times you gotta steer with axle #2 cause #1 is catching air :lmao:

I added a utility box behind the cab to break up all that olive green :roll:

Some fine tuning still needs done, but all-in-all this rig surpassed expectations :mrgreen:

 

[durok]

The more pics ya post of this MONSTROSITY the more I like it - it's the only application where I think that Proline body could ever look good..."thumbsup"

Utterly BADASS!

 

[JimInMiami]

The more pics ya post of this MONSTROSITY the more I like it - it's the only application where I think that Proline body could ever look good..."thumbsup"

Utterly BADASS!

Well, thank you sir!

 

[high plains drifter]

I really wanted to see that other body on this rig in action but regardless, this project was very interesting to follow. Just looks insane crawling up those rocks. Congratulations on the success.

 

[JimInMiami]

I really wanted to see that other body on this rig in action but regardless, this project was very interesting to follow. Just looks insane crawling up those rocks. Congratulations on the success.

Thanks for the kind words and I hear what you're saying about the other body, but I want to be able to drive this rig with "abandon" and not worry about ruining a hardbody. I would never launch it on the rocks the way I did this weekend with the HG801 cab on it, not to mention that the low approach angle would seriously limit what you could tackle.

I rolled it twice on Sunday, and with the Proline body, no big deal as replacing it is a straightforward. I have a buddy who's into the scale stuff and is planning a 6x6 build. I might give him the cab to try out, or just keep it for a future project.

Or if you're interested in buying the parts I assembled shoot me a PM.

 

[JimInMiami]

Two 8x8's meet in a bar......

Ran into James Bailey at Markham Park today and we went wheeling with the equivalent of 4 trucks :lmao: https://www.facebook.com/groups/155887207903538/user/100041197337393

His rig inspired mine, but is at another level with a ton of custom aluminum panels dressing up the rear bed.

His solution to hang axle #1 is different from mine with more spacing between the front wheels and overall length 1" longer.

His 5th wheel feature is killer IMO

 

[JimInMiami]

The next step.....

:shock: MWAHAHAHA... :shock:

 

[Jjay]

awsome wow.

6X6 is cool and huge, 8x8 is sick, very cool. Newer seen before. Must be a Beast

 

[JimInMiami]

awsome wow.

6X6 is cool and huge, 8x8 is sick, very cool. Newer seen before. Must be a Beast

Yeah, it’s a total beast and will climb anything. The only disadvantage is the large turning radius, but the new dig set up should solve that problem, that’s the theory anyway :mrgreen: stay tuned….

 

[Jjay]

Nice, DIG in this will be insane. This is the most insane rig i have seen right now.
Soon Cross RC will release one cool rig, i will write about it now, you will see it very soon.

Anyways this custom 8x8 you have is awsome. Are axles all Portal ?

 

[JimInMiami]

…. Anyways this custom 8x8 you have is awsome. Are axles all Portal ?

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, the mechanics of this rig are all Traxxas TRX 4/6 based.

 

[2471:24]

Monster build, love it! You already have the first cab, so maybe one day?